The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-03-19
Cattle Abortion.

Grand Ridge corresI ondence Of Western
Rwai: We have been losing large numb' l
of colts from premature birth in the vicinit y
of Grand Ridge, Ill. We have lost over OF c
| hundred colts from mares in all conditions
Some have been stabbed and fed grain and
hay, others running out and stabbed ut night
others have not been stabbed at all. As a
general thing when it commences in a herd
they all lose their colts. Mares seem well
before and after colting although in some
cases the legs swell. We cannot find the
cause. Have you heard of similar cases? I
so, is there any remedy!
All we can do is to give the general causes
for the trouble and recommend the general
remedies. 1t is a perplexing subject a: best
Law says that it is caused by blows or pres
sure on the abdomen, slips, falls, riding of
animals in heat, diseases Of the abdominal
organs, uympanitus from wet, frosted or
muddy fodder, Inflammation Of the bowels,
diarrhra, poisoning by irritants taken with
the food or otherwise, renal calcuti or other
diseases Of the kidneys or bladder, stalls too
much inclined backward, overlooking, pie
thora, hot, damp, relaxing stables, severe
muscular exertOn after long rest, exhaust
ing feeding for milk at the expense Of the
system, breeding ut too early an age, prox'-
nifty to or contract with slaughter houses or
dead and decomposing animal matter, espec.
tally the abortion discharge Of other animals,
drinking putrd or iced water, disease, lie.
formity or death Of the trtus, feeding on
ergoted grasses or smutty wheat or corn,
and. finally, the presence in the passages of
a microscopic vegetable parasite leptothrix
vaginalis) which Is easily transferred from
one animal to another 80 as TO procure abor.
ton
Avoid the various causes above named
when found to exist. Especially should at.
tention be given to secure a diet and regi.
men which shall Obviate Indigestion, to Grad.
icate from the hay fields all irritant plants,
to feed q certain amount Of roots in winter
to obviate urinary calculi, to cut meadows
subject to ergot before they run to seed, or
better still to pillow them up under rotation
of other crops, to feed roots with ergoted
hay or smutty corn if these must be cOnsqm
ed, to let the system be somewhat developed
before breeding and not to milk too heavily
the first year, to give pure air and water
and wholesome buildings, and, finally, to
use anti septics on the discharge and TO keep
All oPhit ~ ApS'rS~-r ~
their products. A beast aborting from what
ever cause, should be allowed to.run over
several periods Of heat before she ID, served
again. When alterations have broken ott in
herd good results have followed course
Of chlorate of potassa IN onehalf o.. doses
daily. When the beasts are plethoric benefit
has been derived from bleeding or a bare
diet with occasional milk la1stives. When
run down by poor feeding or by early breed
ing and feeding fer milk q course Of TONES
phosphate Of soda, sulphsss Of iron g.nsian'
and ginger has proved beneficial When
the discharge and other premonitorY sYmp
toms appear laudanum may be given Id
large and repeated doses to quiet the SYSTEM
and keep the tendency in cheek. Quiet and
seclusion are no less essential. When the
arbortion become inevitable it must be al
lowed to proceed Or assistance given II
] necessary ss IN Partsritioa- a-,--, usr %